Community-based Strategies for Documenting Human and

Community-based Strategies for DocumentingHuman and Environmental Health Disparities

Christian Wells

Our mission is to leverage interdisciplinary scientificexpertise at the University of South Florida to informoutcome-driven research on environmental toxicants,land use legacies, community health, environmentaljustice, and sustainable and equitable development.

University Area CommunityTampa, Florida

Characteristic UAC1,2,3,4

City2,4

County2,4

State2,4

Nation2,4,5

Population 10,532 351,006 1,229,226 18,991,634 314,107,084

Per Capita Median Income $12,230 $25,513 $27,062 $25,187 $53,482

Percent Minority 74% 40% 29% 26% 37%

African American 33% 27% 25% 16% 12%

Hispanic 39% 24% 29% 23% 16%

Age >65 8% 11% 12% 19% 7%

Age <17 35% 24% 24% 21% 24%

Unemployment 16% 11% 9% 11% 5%

Poverty Rate 58% 15% 18% 10% 16%

No HS Diploma 32% 9% 14% 14% 15%

No Vehicle 22% 11% 7% 7% 9%

Renter Occupied Housing 89% 42% 35% 27% 31%

1EPA EJScreen ACS Tool;

2U.S. Census 2010;

3FL Environmental Screening Tool (www.fla-

etat.org/est); 42010-2014 American Community Survey;

52016 Bureau of Labor Statistics



“Look, we been sold too many dreams already. It just ain’t goona happen.”

“I come home from work and stay in my house and don’t feel connected. I want to feel belonged, but for me I don’t feel like I matter.”

“Engaged people are the strengths of our community, talking up, speaking out … I did my homework, now it’s time for footwork.”

What is Participatory Action Researchfor Brownfields Redevelopment?

Brownfields-PAR is an approach to learning about environmental toxicants in your neighborhood that brings together researchers and residents who work together to affect change:

• To identify brownfields and related redevelopment challenges in the community

• To empower community members to conduct research and create lasting solutions to problems

• To improve human and environmental health in the community and promote equitable development

What is Brownfields-PAR all about?

Brownfields-PAR emphasizes collaboration between researchers and community members:

• Community members are partners in the research and redevelopment process, not subjects of those processes

• Research and redevelopment focuses on questions and issues that the community identifies as important to investigate

• The ultimate goal is meaningful change in the community

• Brownfields-PAR works to empower community members through participation in social action

How does Brownfields-PAR happen?

Brownfields-PAR uses a cyclical process:

• Planning the research activities and next steps

• Acting out the planned research activities

• Observing the collected data and research process

• Reflecting as a group on how the research is going

Brownfields-PAR at theUniversity Area Harvest Hope Park

PhotoVoice > Freelisting > Pile-sorting > Exhibition > Focus Group

Phase I: Problem Identification



wordle.com







Inventory > Ground-truthing > Kobo Survey > Community Workshop

Phase II: Precision Intervention




kobotoolbox.org




BF-PAR PROJECT ACTIVITIESInventory of Environmental ChallengesEconomic Market AnalysisRapid Health AssessmentSocial Impact AssessmentNeeds-based AssessmentGIS for Redevelopment PlanningCommunity Conversations, OutreachCommunity Design CharretteCommunity Advisory BoardKey-informant interviewsStrategic Communication & Marketing

BF-PAR PROJECT PARTNERSUSF - Center for Brownfields ResearchUSF - Digital Heritage and HumanitiesUSF - School of Public AffairsFlorida Brownfields AssociationUniversity Area CDCMort Elementary SchoolEPA, DEP, and EPCFlorida Department of HealthHillsborough County Economic DevelopmentHillsborough City-County Planning CommissionBGW Associates, Cardno, & Vistra

http://hhcusf-usfaist.opendata.arcgis.com

University Area Harvest Hope ParkOnline Discovery Tool

Place-Making in the University Area Community



Christian Wells

[email protected]

Documents

Community-based Strategies for Documenting Human and